Topping A70 Pro HP & Preamp Review

[Jimster480]

Is it better than GUSTARD DAC-X16?

Gustard X16 Balanced MQA DAC Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the just announced Gustard X16 Balanced USB DAC with hardware decoding. It was kindly sent to me for testing by SHENZHENAUDIO. The X16 costs US $499. The X16 is based on the new ESS ES9068AS DAC which has built-in hardware decoding of MQA...

www.audiosciencereview.com

That is a DAC and this is an AMP.

Here is the D70 (DAC Version of this):

Topping D70 Pro Sabre DAC Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping D70 Pro Sabre edition balanced stereo DAC with Bluetooth. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $699. Topping hugely steps up the look of their DACs with inclusion of a high resolution, high contrast LCD that can show different...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Performance in terms of the DAC itself is quite similar. We have been at the "scientifically inaudible" limit of DAC performance for several years at this point really.

 

[Music1969]

As usual with everything with Topping (A90D is a great recent example):

Wait 6 months for Topping design/production/QA/QC issues to be resolved and firmware updates to be released.

Apart from that - stellar performance. I can't believe the practically zero distortion plots. Amazing.

I'll buy one in November lol

 

[Ralf Stocker]

I think the Benchmark HPA4 is better.

 

[martijn86]

All you could ever want and nothing you don't need at state of the art quality. If I was more of a headphone user, I wouldn't think twice to build a nice balanced desktop setup using this amp. Bravo!

 

[nicholasvanorton]

Gustard X16 Balanced MQA DAC Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the just announced Gustard X16 Balanced USB DAC with hardware decoding. It was kindly sent to me for testing by SHENZHENAUDIO. The X16 costs US $499. The X16 is based on the new ESS ES9068AS DAC which has built-in hardware decoding of MQA...

www.audiosciencereview.com

That is a DAC and this is an AMP.

Here is the D70 (DAC Version of this):

Topping D70 Pro Sabre DAC Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping D70 Pro Sabre edition balanced stereo DAC with Bluetooth. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $699. Topping hugely steps up the look of their DACs with inclusion of a high resolution, high contrast LCD that can show different...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Performance in terms of the DAC itself is quite similar. We have been at the "scientifically inaudible" limit of DAC performance for several years at this point really.

Arf, sorry, I mean GUSTARD H16 AMP?

 

[solderdude]

That is one impressive graph.

View attachment 285128

18V into 32ohm is 10W isn't it? What happened to 16W? Higher THD+N maybe?

6000mW x 2 @16 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 3000mW x 2 @32 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 1550mW x 2 @64 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 330mW x 2 @300 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 165mW x 2 @600 Ohms THD+N<0.1%

17000mW x 2 @16 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 12600mW x 2 @32 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 6000mW x 2 @64 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 1370mW x 2 @300 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 670mW x 2 @600 Ohms THD+N<0.1%

16W is only possible in balanced operation in 16ohm.

16W into your low imp IEM, by accident when lying on a table, will destroy it in milliseconds.

 

[Waxx]

I don't like headphones, but if that wasn't the case, this would be a great one to have if you don't want any distortion or colouration. Distortion is so low that it's hard to measure and the other specs are also where it should be. This is textbook perfect so on my recommend list if someone asks for a good headphone amplifier. And if the pre output would be as nice (not tested) it would also be a top level preamplifier if you only need one source in (what a lot need these days with digital only sources).

 

[Nordling]

Arf, sorry, I mean GUSTARD H16 AMP?

Yes, the Topping A70 Pro is better than the Gustard H16. But I doubt one can hear a difference between the two.

 

[Ralf Stocker]

6000mW x 2 @16 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 3000mW x 2 @32 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 1550mW x 2 @64 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 330mW x 2 @300 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 165mW x 2 @600 Ohms THD+N<0.1%

17000mW x 2 @16 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 12600mW x 2 @32 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 6000mW x 2 @64 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 1370mW x 2 @300 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 670mW x 2 @600 Ohms THD+N<0.1%

16W is only possible in balanced operation in 16ohm.

16W into your low imp IEM, by accident when lying on a table, will destroy it in milliseconds.

This raises the general question of which ear survives 1 watt and more.

 

[IAtaman]

16W into your low imp IEM, by accident when lying on a table, will destroy it in milliseconds.

Well, other than being a marketing gimmick that gives the proud owner bragging rights, I was really hoping 16W specs would enable this amp to double as a spot welder for DIY rechargeable battery projects.

 

[Ziroz]

6000mW x 2 @16 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 3000mW x 2 @32 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 1550mW x 2 @64 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 330mW x 2 @300 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 165mW x 2 @600 Ohms THD+N<0.1%

17000mW x 2 @16 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 12600mW x 2 @32 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 6000mW x 2 @64 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 1370mW x 2 @300 Ohms THD+N<0.1% 670mW x 2 @600 Ohms THD+N<0.1%

16W is only possible in balanced operation in 16ohm.

16W into your low imp IEM, by accident when lying on a table, will destroy it in milliseconds.

Eardrums have left the chat.

 

[staticV3]

This raises the general question of which ear survives 1 watt and more.

Easy.
Amir measured the Aeon RT Closed at 79dB/mW.
With 1W on tap, that leaves you with 109dB SPL Peak and between 85 and 95dB SPL AVG, depending on the dynamic range of your music.

 

[nonnyno]

so I wonder what Gustard/Singxer/Sabaj/SMSL are going to release over the next few months to compete. Imagine the one box solutions with dx7pro+ like dacs and say normal a70 like headphone amps

 

[dogmamann]

The only thing to nitpick here is the font topping always use for the model number on the front plate. It looks very amateurish

 

[solderdude]

This raises the general question of which ear survives 1 watt and more.

depends on the sensitivity and effectivity of the headphone and the music used.

 

[Mattcc22]

They have pretty much perfected these EXCEPT for the dang remote!!! Why can't Topping/SMSL/FOSI, etc... put a little more effort into a remote that works from more than about 4 ft away! Any cheap receiver, amazon fire stick, etc.. all have good working remotes.

 

[staticV3]

Here's the Max Power vs Load for Topping's most powerful headphone Amps:


I rechecked everything for this graph, and noticed that I made a mistake on the last iteration here.
As you can see the A90 and A90D are actually quite similar. I'm sorry for potentially misleading some folk.
I'll try my best to be more careful going forward.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

depends on the sensitivity and effectivity of the headphone and the music used.

And ones ears.
I know some people that listen so freakin loud that music is just BLASTING from the headphones.
I cannot stand their volume for more than 5-10 seconds, but for them it's a "normal" kinda above average loudness

 

[FrantzM]

WoW!!

Oooooook...

I don't have any needs for this .. I really don't: I use a Drop THX 789AAA for my headphones system, It remains one of the best Headphones amplifier reviewed here. It has enough juice for the power-hungry HifiMan, low sensitivity HE-6SE.... I have the Topping D10 Balanced for DAC and I am extremely pleased .... The SINAD of this DAC + Amp chain, has to be at least 115 dB (!!), thus, it is transparent. Any gain in SINAD will not be audible and I don't think I need more power ...
...
...
..
Some time this year, is my birthday...

I don't need this headphones amplifier, but I am buying it for my birthday, perhaps the companion DAC too.

Don't try to convince me out of it



Peace.

 

[HYQID]

10W@32ohm,there we go.